Support



Patented May 28, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i SUPPORT Adolph L. Sabin, Rogers City, Mich. Application February 1, 1945, Serial No. 575,685

2 Claims.

This invention is particularly concerned with the problem encountered in supporting the weight of a lowered boom on the deck of a water craft in such a fashion as to prevent the boom being subjected to flexing stresses resulting from flexure of the deck due to working of the water craft in a seaway.

A specific example of the invention is schematically illustrated by the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side View of the invention in use;

Figure 2 is an end view;

Figure 3 is a sectioned end View; and

Figure 4 is a section taken from the line IV-IV in Figure 2.

More specifically, this drawing shows the deck I of a Water craft and the boom 2 pivoted to the water craft above the deck I, at 3, along` with the boom operating wire rope system 4. When the boom is not being used` and the water craft is under way it is necessary to lower the boom so it is supported by the deck I, and the latter ilexes with working of the water craft by an uneasy sea.

According to the present invention, a plurality of supports 5 are spaced along the deck I, the latter representing a base that is subject to flexure, to register with the boom 2, when it is Y lsupport the weight of the boom.

When the boom 2 is lowered so its longitudinally extending parts ride the bearings 9 with the clamps I0 holding the boom thereon, but loosely so the boom can move longitudinally of the deck on the bearings 9, the boom is relieved from flexing stress when the deck I flexes vertically due to working of the water craft in a Seaway, the pistons 6 working in the mutually interconnected cylinders l and the latter being filled with fluid under sufficient pressure to support the weight of the boom, all to the end of providing a load distributing system effecting complete equalization of all stresses transmitted to the boom 2 through the supports by vertical iiexure of the deck I. Longitudinal lexure of the deck I cannot be transmitted to the boom 2 because of the sliding action permitted by the antifriction bearings 9 and the loose clamps I0,

it being understood, however, that these clamps I0` position the boom 2 against lateral displacement from the bearings 9.

To conveniently provide maximum sturdiness, the cylinders 'I are fixed to the deck I so as to provide pedestals while the conduit system 8 is located below-deck to prevent its being damaged andto provide for the convenient introduction of the necessary fluid which may be introduced through an inlet II to the conduit system. The pistons 6 may be sturdily constructed to ride directly in the cylinders I and their tops are preferably tied together by transverse beams I2 fixedly mounting mounts I3 carrying the bearings 9 and with these mounts I3 journaling a shaft I4 in screw threaded connection with the clamps I0, with the threads oppositely pitched on opposite sides of themounts I3 to provide for opposite movement of the clamps ID upon rotation of the shaft I4, as by means of a convenient hand wheel I5. The clamps I 0 are provided with bottoms arranged in sliding engagement with the beam I2 to prevent rotation of the clamps about the shaft I4. It is to be understood that the clamps I 0 should not be used to tightly clamp the boom, the idea being that these clamps should embrace the boom just so as to prevent its displacement from the bearings 9 while permitting it to ride back and forth on these bearings.

I claim:

1. A base that is subject to exure, a plurality of supports spaced alongsaid base and including cooperating pistons and cylinders working transverse said base, conduit means interconnecting said cylinders, antifriction bearings carried on said supports through said pistons and cylinders, a long pivotally mounted boom having a portion resting on said bearings, means registering said boom on said bearings while permitting its longitudinal movement thereon, and nuid in said cylinders and conduits under sufficient pressure to support the weight of said structure, whereby to relieve said structure from exing stresses upon flexure of said base.

2. Apparatus for supporting the weight of a lowered boom on the deck of a water craft, said apparatus comprising a plurality of supports spaced along said deck to register with said boom and each including cooperating pistons and cylinders working vertically, conduit means interconnecting said cylinders, antifriction bearings mounted on said supports through saidpistons and cylinders, releasable clamps for registering said boom on said bearings while permitting its longitudinal movement thereon, and fluid in said cylinders and conduits under sufficient pressure to support the weight of said boom.

ADOLPH L. SABIN. 

